Houston Rockets pour it on to beat Minnesota Timberwolves in Mexico City

Jerry Zgoda

MEXICO CITY: Eleven months after the Minnesota Timberwolves didn't play a game they might never forget, they lost 113-101 to Houston on Wednesday at Mexico City on a night they rightfully soon won't remember.

Last December, the Wolves traveled all the way to Mexico for a game scheduled against San Antonio that was postponed after smoke from a generator fire billowed into newish Mexico City Arena just 75 minutes before the opening tip.

On Wednesday, 18,996 long-waiting Mexican fans came to the 22,500-seat capacity arena garbed in NBA gear - everything from vintage Michael Jordan No. 23 jerseys to those representing Rockets stars Dwight Howard and James Harden, Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant, the New York Knicks non-specifically and Timberwolves present and past, Andrew Wiggins and missing Ricky Rubio as well as Kevin Garnett and almost-forgotten Latrell Sprewell.

They came for everything an NBA game far to the north presents, only delivered in Spanish during an evening when Howard and Harden pushed the Rockets after halftime onto a seventh victory in their first eight games.

The Wolves missed their first seven shots to start each half and the Rockets used a 31-21 third quarter to pull away after Wolves - with injured Rubio back home in Minnesota but youngsters Wiggins, Zach LaVine and Shabazz Muhammad present - kept it a game for a half, after which they trailed 53-49 at intermission.

Howard delivered a 22-point, 10-rebound night that perhaps entertained the big crowd more when he spectacularly missed a dunk than when he made one, although his four swatted blocked shots were highlights as well. Harden had 23 points and 10 assists on a night when Wolves coach Flip Saunders sent teenager Wiggins out to defend the bearded one.

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Wiggins scored 15 points before he sat down about the same time Howard and Harden did in the final minutes, by which time the Rockets had led by as many as 21 points. Wolves veteran Corey Brewer led his team with 18 points, just 33 fewer than the 51 he scored the last time these teams met in April in Minneapolis.

The Wolves on Wednesday accepted a big payday from the NBA to move one of their 41 home games 1,800 miles away from Target Center on a night that had all the trappings of an NBA game held north of the border.

You had mascots from both teams, including the Wolves' Crunch outfitted for a time in sombrero and woven Mexican blanket.

You had celebrity sightings shown on the huge overhead scoreboard at the massive, gleamingly modern four-level arena, only this time and for this audience it was celebrities such as Mexican actor Valentino Lanus and soccer player Marco Fabian.

And, of course, you had the Kiss Cam, which translates in any language including love.

The Wolves arrived on a bus that drove 45 minutes through the seemingly never-ending streets of Mexico City, rolling past vendor after vendor set up on the sidewalks hawking NBA - league-approved certainly - merchandise.

Last December, those stands almost exclusively sold the Spurs' black-and-white gear. This time, it was much more representative: Plenty of jerseys bearing the names and numbers of Harden and Howard.

The evening began with the Wolves' usual pre-game video production and the appearance of the team's dance line, followed by a hard-charging Crunch who came onto the floor carrying his team's banner.

Rockets' star Howard greeted the fans with a big - and very loud - "Hola!" when each team sent a representative to mid-court to welcome the crowd. Wolves reserves center Ronny Turiaf did his part for his team with a short greeting in Spanish.

With so much to choose, the Mexicans fans decided they pretty much loved everything, particularly Muhammad's soaring dunk down the free-throw lane just before the end of the first half after he had dribbled nearly the length of the court to do so.

The jam elicited a yelp out of Muhammad himself, a roar from even the upper deck and it got Turiaf, LaVine and Robbie Hummel up and celebrating on the team's bench.

Star Tribune (Minneapolis)

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